Hands-on with the Vacheron Constantin Chronomètre Royal 1907 Kidz Horizon – an incredible blue enamel dial for a good cause (with exclusive, live photos)

A unique Vacheron Constantin Chronomètre Royal 1907 with a blue grand feu enamel dial will be sold later this month for Singapore charity Kidz Horizon. We go live and up close with this gorgeous timepiece.

For the 2013 edition of the annual Kidz Horizon Charity Ball in Singapore, Vacheron Constantin has created something incredibly simple but also incredibly beautiful. The Chronomètre Royal 1907 Kidz Horizon has an implausibly beautiful fired enamel dial in a deep blue.

Most enamel dials are white, in fact the regular production Chronomètre Royal has a white dial. Blue, on the other hand, is rare. This is a deep, subtle blue, with a tinge of purple at certain angles. Impossible to photograph properly, the watch has to be seen to be appreciated.

Producing this unique blue dial was a challenge mainly due to the white numerals, minute track and text on the dial. To ensure that all of those elements were pure white, without even a hint of blue showing through, took five times as long as that for the conventional white enamel dial.

That is despite this blue dial having less text than the regular production white dial.

Chronomètre Royal 1907 in rose gold

Besides the colour and text, the blue dial also has a secret signature in the minute track at eight o’clock which spells out “Kidz Horizon”.

And as expected the dial is of high quality, being glossy, generally smooth with few surface imperfections.

The 39 mm case is platinum, and being a unique piece, is engraved “No 1/1”. Likewise the presentation box is fitted with a plaque engraved “Kidz Horizon 2013”.

Visible through the sapphire back is the cal. 2460 SCC movement, the brand’s flagship in-house automatic movement. Both Geneva Seal and COSC certified, the movement is highly finished. A minor quibble concerns the beveling of certain bridges, which appears to be embossed, resulting in softer edges. The rotor a solid gold winding rotor with text in relief.

This unique Chronomètre Royal, like the other Kidz Horizon timepieces before it, was donated by the family of the late Duncan Wang, an American watch collector based in Singapore.

Last year’s unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Kidz Horizon which sold for US$136,000

With the regular production Chronomètre Royal in platinum retailing for S$88,000, or about US$68,000, this is expected to hammer for more.

Kidz Horizon, which helps chronically and terminally ill children, can be reached for information about bidding on this unique watch. The auction will take place on August 17.

– SJX

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